Free Tell by Allison Merritt

Tell.
    â€œInstead of blaming me, we could figure out a solution.” Tell ran his thumb over his knife sheath. “I say we kill him.”
    Wystan glared. “Not an option.”
    â€œHe damn well didn’t show any mercy when he thought he’d compel me into doing his dirty work.” He wasn’t going to forgive easily for that.
    â€œWait, wait. He tried to compel you?” Eban’s face reddened. “He doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does then.”
    Tell snorted. “I never thought he was particularly bright.” Nowhere good enough for his Sylvie.
    â€œWe need to find him and smooth this over before he makes it public that things aren’t as clean-cut as they seem. So Eban and I will talk to him.” Wystan held up his hand when Eban started to protest. “Tell, you make sure he hasn’t gone to bother Sylvie again.”
    He bristled at the order. “Why do I feel like you’re trying to get rid of me? Check on Sylvie? I taught her how to shoot. She doesn’t need a bodyguard.”
    â€œYou think she carries a gun to work?” Wystan asked.
    â€œYou think she doesn’t? That’s cute. She’s smarter than that. But if you think I need a mindless chore while the big boys handle the schoolyard bully, fair enough.” He shrugged. “I’d say I got the better end of the deal. Enjoy spending time with Spinner. I’m interested to hear what he has to say about me.”
    Eban grabbed his arm. “You walk. Don’t you dare show up in her shop the way you did here.”
    Tell rolled his eyes. “It’d scare her employees to death if I poofed in there that way. I’m not an imbecile.”
    â€œIt’s debatable. Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.” Wystan threw him a dark look.
    He yanked his arm out of Eban’s grasp. “I’ve been taking care of myself for years. I think I can handle a little walk across town.” If he didn’t get the urge to set someone or something on fire. Or run into Spinner before his brothers.
    â€œYou check on her, you go straight home afterward,” Eban said.
    â€œYes, Ma. I’ll be sure to do that.” Tell shook his head. “Can I go now, or are there other instructions?”
    Wystan gestured at the door.
    â€œGive Spinner my best.” He winked at Wystan, faking humor he didn’t feel. The temptation to disappear in front of them was strong, but he left through the door the way they’d ordered. Between the two of them, they could come up with some sort of story to feed Spinner that would put out the fire Tell had caused.
    He didn’t like leaving Eb and Wys to clean up his messes. It was cowardly, irresponsible and childish. Three things he wasn’t, no matter what everyone thought of him. Some days he wanted to crack Wystan and Eban’s heads together to make them realize he wasn’t a child any more, but there was no denying they looked out for him when he needed it.
    I’ll kill them last when I go demon-shit crazy.
    Well, before he killed Sylvie. God, what good would it do to rule the earth if he didn’t have someone pretty and witty to share the apocalypse with?
    He walked to Sylvie’s shop—a long walk considering his interesting new talent—without encountering anyone who might have heard he was the harbinger of death. Or everyone was taking it well. He hoped for the latter.
    The bell jingled as he stepped through the door. The women Sylvie employed were absent, but Sylvie sat at her sewing machine with her back to him. Some kind of ugly gray material hung across her lap and snaked down her skirt.
    â€œHang it all,” she snapped. Her foot eased off the pedal and she fumbled with the feed dog. “This is impossible.”
    â€œSylv?”
    She jumped, then twisted at the waist to look at him. “You scared me.”
    â€œI seem to be the cause of a lot of that these